New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-04-14
FRAUDS IN THE CUSTOMS.
Mr. BECK ON DEFECTS OF THE SERVICE.
REMEDIES PROPOSED AS THE RESULT OF COM
urrrrr,a INVESTIGATIONS

aruvDIEs PROPOSED AS THE RESULT oF Co"-
MIrrEE's INVESTIGATIONS
WASHINGTON, April IS tSpecap' senator Deck.
who is member Of the committee nask sa,d
a. uuderyauation Of invoices under considera"on sa
e. dav. q We had before us an immense mass OF e'r
Sencc. the statements Of experts, supported ny wy
The data collected by ourselves ana oy INC uo
part,nent and all the propositions tnat nave voon
made 10 correct the abuses Every Dill that mas
introduced in Congress with relation 10 the suDJo0'
mas been carefully and we are now endeaV
orinr to formulate bill which will improve the es'o
system 1t is an immense question: greater lille im
than that OF the Interstate Commerce. anu nv :;
cult to deal with. No one can have an iuea VIC" ".s
until they get into It, IL anec's n o ~. hmsnesa in.
service the consular service and all the business
terests of the country. There IS scra"pi. It
importers to get the valuations as low as poss be
one can get his goods in cheaper than MS s. o,t
can undersel them. Thus there is cons'an, ~.
throat game going that affects prices aii o,o w
countr, Exporters send their goods here marKcu if
below their real value aud sell them In oonu, 'ne
Transaction being conducted on the other siuo.
is no uniformity Of valuation. Some merchants Py
one price, some another Tor the same ai,ioo'' "n
those who pay less duty underseli the others anu
Goods are rated differently at different ports linen
the system of merchant appraisers Is BAD lou may
ait to-day in apprasement OF goods Ior MA" VIZ" ="
70 morrow be called upon to Tx price on eoous "a
yours There is likely to be tendency between soa
10 be liberal with each other 1t is asserted that mer
chants accommodate each other in their appralsemen
We have studied the matter very carefully ana .hihh
the most important thing is to secure UNIFORMITY VI
valuation To have the valuation UNIFORM is noro
important even than to have it just we cannon nave
the importer paying immense duties on nat in'nse, o
instance at one port, while the importer d. 'ho'n
port paws merely nominal duty. All the proper 70
lations of trade are disturbed. We are through WIN
ouf investigation now and III few days VIII nave
measure prepared which we will submit to the Secre
trry of the Treasury for his opinion we were graz
fed Yesterday when Mr.. Magone was before us d. va.
Capitol to fud that his experience with the suleo.
had led him to about the same conclusions We III"
arrived at" A. .,,,;,.oo
In response to a question as to what the commttee
was likely to propose, Mr.. Beck said: .
The measure is not fully formulated, ont our ldea
is to do away with merchant appraisers, and TO pro-
vide tor the appointment OF nine apIrasels W r'i0
(ioyerpm.nt three Of whom will be located perma'
nently in New-York City. The other SIX VIII nave
eli arge OF the other ports and will make UNIFORM
Advertisement. The three appraisers at new io.h VIII
act MS sort of board Of appeals to which questiohs
DISPUTE will be carried. The plan may include the
construction OF Government ssmpie-nouse aso;
where the classification of goods may be determined
and uniformity of valuation secured. we want also
to improve the consular service 30 as to make IL he
to the customs service instead OF hndrance US ~
COW is c.
We will submit our general plan to the Secretary
of the Treasury and to the Collectors OF the ports Oh
Boston New-York and Philadelphia and others" con-
finued the Senator, and will have the bill ready TO
present to tho Senate soon as Congress meets. IL
will be ready to attach tv any bill the House may pass
affecting the of duties or may be passed oy the
Seuate as an independent proposition. Inc senate
wants do all it can in the matter. we eanho. uo
anything with the rates OF customs duties. though
there arc glarng defects. until the House taxes the
first step hut can help the matter along oy inc
preparation of this bill"